Marriott’s CEO, Arne Sorenson (who was comically named CEO of the year in April) and who has brought us such wisdom as SPG integration issues being ‘noises around the edges‘ and that passport data must be collected during online booking (that doesn’t happen) has some more wisdom, this time defending the practice of charging resort fees in a LinkedIn interview.
In the interview Sorenson tries to make a few points that I’d like to dispute:
- Resort fees are equivalent to baggage fees that airlines charge. Consumers don’t like these fees, but they are necessary to operate. Except for the fact that resort fees are mandatory and baggage fees aren’t, which is the main reason people have issues with resort fees in the first place.
- Resort fees are a good way of packaging benefits. Sorenson claims that it’s better to not charge for things like paddleboard rental and bike rental and instead include all of these into a single resort fee. That’s great and all, but most people don’t want to pay $30 a day for benefits they have no intention of using.
- Resort fees won’t becoming to non resorts. Sure, you’ll call it a destination fee or some other bullshit fee instead.
The real reason Marriott is so intent on charging these fees is because they don’t pay commission to the online booking sites on these fees. In addition they are able to make their room rates look more appealing during the initial stages of booking in comparison to other hotels if they have hidden fees such as resort fees. The simple fact is that if a charge is unavoidable and must be paid, it should be included in the original listing price. Let’s hope more state attorneys general follow the lead of D.C. and start legal proceedings against Marriott and other chains for this deceptive practice.
Hat tip to VFTW
This isn’t just Marriott. Try staying in most any hotel in Honolulu and you’ll be hit with at least a $25 daily fee of some sort that covers your ability to see the ocean or whatever.
I also particularly enjoy the “concession fee” we have to pay for rental cars at certain airports. Sometimes it’s just easier to Uber to the same company’s off-site rental place to avoid it.
marriott will collapse under it’s own debt for the Starwood acquisition when Airbnb releases a rewards credit card
I hope so, because Arne has destroyed the Starwood program.
Weak
Resort Fee’s = C-suite bonus
Resort Fee’s = Shareholder’s divided
What an ass. Thank you for posting.
Also DoC, admittedly minor but it should be “attorneys general” not “attorney generals.”
Thanks
I feel they do this with prepaid rates. When I look through Marriott search results I see ok cool $150 a night and then you go to it and it’s prepaid and the refundable member rate is $50 more.
Resort fees need to start being included in the advertised price. Otherwise it’s just plain deceptive.
But then the chains have to pay OTA commissions on the fees cutting g bottom line.profits.
Who doesn’t resent the airlines because baggage fees have created gate lice and another garbage fee: the overhead bin fee
err….the early boarding fleece fee.
Who honestly enjoys spending extra time in a stuffy metal tube…. If you don’t have a glass of bubbly in your hand.
I remember the days before SW existed when you were allowed 2 free checked bags traveling coach domestic and having status often meant a free upgrade as the planes often had empty seats.
This PIA is the reason why I dislike marriott anymore
I don’t mind paying the the resort fees as long as it goes directly to the people who clean the area.
eff the people who clean the area. Im already paying for the room charge. if the service is good. I’ll leave a gratuity. Its should be all included in the total room charge
Marriott doesn’t even waive resort fees on point stays. Wack.
They don’t waive them for certificate stays, either.
Oooh, that comment raises an interesting issue. Do other chains commonly waive resort fees on point stays? Which ones? I’d personally like to avoid the silly nightly “resort fees” on point/free stays at Radisson … Anybody know of which chains waive resort fees on point stays?
Maybe a DoC or TIF resource idea — one that might help move the issue.
I don’t think most other big chains do. I know Hilton & Hyatt waive resort fees on award stays.
Hyatt will also waive resort fee for Globalist on paid stays.
Yep, but some Hyatt properties use the destination fee to get around it.